Dual purpose plate with removable beverage container

ABSTRACT

A dual purpose plate for use in a wide variety of social and dining environments. The dual purpose plate is provided with an aperture located in the center of the plate. The aperture is adapted to removably receive a beverage container therein, thereby allowing a user to simultaneously hold both the plate and a beverage that is placed within the beverage container, with only using one hand. The plate is constructed with a raised exterior perimeter wall, a raised interior retaining wall, and a plurality of raised interior segmenting walls that connect between the interior and exterior walls and separate articles of food, condiments, or other items located on the surface of the plate. The raised interior and exterior walls retain food or other articles placed on the plate and prevent liquids from spilling into the beverage container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field food and beverage servingdevices and more particularly to dual purpose food plates with removablebeverage containers.

BACKGROUND

Food and beverages are often served at social and business gatheringssuch as sporting events, conferences, festivals, barbecues, and thelike. Often times there are not enough tables or horizontal surfaces fora person to properly eat from a plate of food while holding a beverageleading to spills and the uncomfortable consumption of the food andbeverage.

Numerous attempts have been made in the art to overcome this dilemma.For example; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0095032 published Apr. 28, 2011 byEvans describes a party plate with an aperture in the center of theplate to receive a beverage container holder. Evans also describes aseries of perforations located within the beverage container. One of thedisadvantages of the Evans plate is that an aperture in the center ofthe plate allows food and other items located on the plate to escapethrough the aperture when the beverage container is not attached. Thisis an inconvenient feature and makes this particular plate unusablewithout the required beverage container attached. Additionally, evenwith the beverage container attached, users may not want liquids such asgravy to run through the perforations in the container and onto theirbeverages or other items which may be placed within the beverage holder.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,028, issued Mar. 8, 1994 to Patterson, describes aplate with a glass holder formed on its bottom, where the plate includesa plate holder adapted to hold a separate disposable plate. A problemwith this invention is that the glass holder on the bottom side is notlevel making it difficult to set down on a flat surface such as a table.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,396, issued Jul. 24, 1984 to Harper, discloses aplate having a recess for the lower end of a glass in its upper surfaceallowing a user to insert their thumb into the recess to hold the plate.A disadvantage of this invention is that a movement or relief of thethumb pressure by the user may allow the glass to become dislodged andspill outside the glass.

Although many attempts have been made in art to overcome the challengeof holding both a food plate and a beverage in one hand, none of therelated inventions have overcome all of the drawbacks and disadvantagesoutlined herein. What is therefore needed in the field is a sturdy, dualpurpose food plate capable of being secured as needed to a beverage andarticle container and allowing a user to place the plate onto a flatsurface if available, or, to hold the plate with container in one handwithout fear of spills or leakages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises improved dual purpose plates withremovable beverage containers which may be used in a wide variety ofsocial and dining environments. It is an object of the invention toprovide a plate with an aperture or opening located within the perimeterof the plate adapted to receive a beverage container thereby allowing auser to hold both a plate and a beverage in one hand. It is further anobject of the invention to provide a plate with a raised exteriorperimeter wall and a raised interior retaining wall configured tocontain food or other articles on the plate and to avoid spills andleakages while being held by a user. It is yet a further object of theinvention to provide a plurality of raised interior segmenting walls toallow a user to separate articles of food, condiments, or other itemslocated on the surface of the plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an exampleand are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, inwhich like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a 3D perspective view of an example of an improved platewith a removable beverage container separated from said plate.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view showing an example of an improved plateconnected to a beverage container.

FIG. 3 shows a top down view of an example of beverage container.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an improved plate with a removable capcovering the aperture of the improved plate.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a plate from a bottom view perspective (5A)and a plate with beverage holder from a side cut-away view perspective(5B). Measurements shown are meant as an illustrative example of someembodiments only and should not necessarily be used to limit the scopeof the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a transparent side view of one example of a plate removablyconnected to a beverage container through a friction connection.

FIG. 7 shows a close-up transparent side view of one example of a plateremovably connected to a beverage container through a frictionconnection.

FIG. 8 shows a 3D perspective view of an example of a beverage containerwithout male attachment members.

FIG. 9 shows a partial side cross section view of an example of abeverage container with a winged rim.

FIG. 10 shows a 3D view of one example of a plate with a support lip.

FIG. 11 shows a 3D view of an example of a dipping container with adipping container tab.

FIG. 12 shows a 3D view of an example of a dipping container with adipping container tab removably connected to a plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of oneor more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms aswell as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by onehaving ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Itwill be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonlyused dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and thepresent disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overlyformal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number oftechniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefitand each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in somecases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sakeof clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possiblecombination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion.Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with theunderstanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope ofthe invention and the claims.

New improved plates with removable beverage containers are discussedherein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, toone skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

As perhaps best shown by FIG. 1, an example of an improved plate 100 andbeverage container 200 is provided. A plate 100 as discussed herein maybe of an oval design, a round circular design, a square design, ahexagonal design, or any suitable design or shape for plates used toserve food. In preferred embodiments, the plate 100 is generally an ovalor round shape. In some embodiments, the plate 100 and beveragecontainer 200 may be made from plastic such as recycled plasticincluding rPET, PET, PETE, PETG, etc. and the like. In some furtherembodiments, the plate 100 and beverage container 200 may be made frombiodegradable and compostable material such as bamboo, bagasse, etc. andthe like.

In preferred embodiments, the plate 100 comprises at least one openingor aperture 101 configured to receive a beverage container 200. In theexample shown by FIG. 1, the aperture 101 is substantially located atthe center of plate 100. In alternative embodiments, the aperture 101may be located off-center or in close proximity to the perimeter of theplate 100. The plate 100 comprises a raised perimeter wall 104 with aheight of between 0.5 inches to 1.75 inches. The raised perimeter wall104 is configured to hold food and other articles within the plate 100and to avoid spills and leakages as the plate 100 may be moved aboutfrom time to time. The plate 100 further comprises a raised interiorretaining wall 102 surrounding the aperture 101 with a height of between0.5 inches to 1.75 inches. The retaining wall 102 is generallyconfigured to hold food and other articles within the plate 100 and toavoid spills and leakages as the plate 100 may be moved about from timeto time.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of raised interior segmentingwalls 105 may extend out radially from the interior retaining wall 102to the exterior perimeter wall 104 on plate 100. The raised interiorsegmenting walls 105 may have a height of between 0.5 inches to 1.5inches and are generally configured to separate food, condiments, orother articles placed on the plate 100.

An example of a beverage container 200 is further provided in FIG. 1. Abeverage container 200 is configured to receive a beverage such as aglass, cup, bottle, or can but may also be used to store other itemssuch as condiments, dipping sauce, napkins, food, and the like. In someembodiments, a beverage container 200 comprises a container rim 202which may have an exterior wall configured to fit within the aperture101 of plate 100. In some embodiments, one or more male attachmentmembers 201 may be located on the beverage container rim 202. The maleattachment members 201 are configured to be placed within the recessedinterior female groove 103 which may be located within the interiorretaining wall 102 of the plate 100 in some embodiments. The connectionbetween the male attachment members 201 and female groove 103 is onemeans to allow beverage container 200 to be removably connected to plate100 using a tongue-in-groove style of connection. In some embodiments,two or more male attachment members 201 are located on the interior(i.e. facing the center opening) of the beverage container 200. In somealternative embodiments, a single male lip or attachment ring may belocated on the rim 202 of beverage container 200. In general, the maleattachment members 201 protrude slightly out and away from container rim202 as shown by the figures. It should be noted that the presentinvention includes embodiments wherein the beverage container 200 isremovably attached to the improved plate 100 using friction fitting andwithout the use of male or female members (see additional figures anddescription).

Now, referring to FIG. 2, a side view of a plate 100 and beveragecontainer 200 is provided. In this example, beverage container 200 issecurely connected to plate 100 through a tongue-in-groove styleconnection with a plurality of male attachment members 201 (not shown)placed within a female groove or female openings located within plateaperture. By slightly squeezing the upper portion of beverage container200, a user may disengage male attachment members 201 from the femalegroove 103 thereby removing the beverage container 200 from plate 100.

As shown by FIG. 3, a top down view of an example of a beveragecontainer 200 is provided. In this example, the beverage container 200has an outer container rim 202 which may be a single layer of materialbent or folded over onto itself to provide greater strength and supportfor the container 200 as it is connected to the plate 100. In someembodiments, a plurality of male attachment members 201 protrude fromthe rim 202 inwardly towards the center of the container 200. In theexample shown by FIG. 3, four male attachment members 201(a), 201(b),201(c), and 201(d) are located on the container rim 202. In someembodiments, zero, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, orany number of suitable male attachment members may be located on thecontainer rim 202. In some alternative embodiments, a single male liplocated around the interior or exterior of the container rim 202 may beused instead of individual male attachment members 201 to secure thebeverage container 200 to the plate 100.

FIG. 4 provides an alternative embodiment wherein a plate 100 is shownwith a removable aperture cap 300. The removable aperture cap 300 may betemporarily placed over the top of the plate aperture 101. The cap 300may be made of plastic or any suitable material. The cap 300 may, insome embodiments, have raised retaining walls 301 located along theperimeter edge of the cap and may even have a recessed valley located atthe center of the cap 300 thereby allowing a user to place dippingsauce, salsa, condiments, or other articles within the center of the cap300.

Now referring to FIG. 5, one example of a plate 100 and beverage holder200 is provided. FIG. 5A shows a bottom view of a plate 100 while FIG.5B shows a side cut away view of a plate 100 with beverage container200. In some embodiments, the bottom of the plate 100 comprises acontainer channel 106 located around the aperture 101. The containerchannel 106 is configured to receive the container rim 202 of thecontainer. The container channel 106 has an interior wall and anexterior wall and is adapted to receive one or more male attachmentmembers 201. In some preferred embodiments, a recessed interior femalegroove 103 may be located on the interior wall of channel 106 proving ameans to connect plate 100 to the rim 202 of beverage container 200.FIG. 5B shows a side cut away view of plate 100 with container channel106 wherein the interior container channel 106 of this particularembodiment comprises a recessed female groove 103 on its interior wall.In some alternative embodiments, female groove 103 may be located on theexterior wall of container channel 106 or may not be present at all. Anexample of a beverage container 200 is shown below and not attached tothe interior channel 106 of plate 100. Measurements provided areintended as an example only for some embodiments.

As perhaps best shown by FIGS. 6 and 7, the improved plate 100 maypreferably be removably connected to a beverage container 200 through afriction fit connection and without male attachment members. In thisembodiment, the winged rim 203 of the container is configured with adiameter substantially the same the aperture of the plate 100. Theplastic or slightly flexible material of the beverage container rim 202allows it to be compressed and inserted into the container receptacleaperture 101. Because both the diameters of the aperture 101 andcontainer rim 203 are substantially similar (e.g. within 0.25 inches ofeach other), frictional forces are created between the rim 203 andinterior wall of the plate's aperture 101 thereby connecting the twopieces together also known as a “friction fit”.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, in some embodiments the beveragecontainer 200 comprises a container rim 202 which does not include anymale or female attachment members. In some embodiments, the containerrim 202 may have a winged rim section 203 which is flexible in natureallowing it to be slightly compressed and inserted into the aperture 101of plate 100 forming a friction fit connection.

FIG. 10 shows a 3D view of one example of a plate with an optionalsupport lip 107 located around the internal perimeter of the plateaperture 101. The support lip is configured to generally support abeverage container 200 or dipping container 400 when removably connectedto the plate 100.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show one example of an optional embodiment wherein theplate 100 is configured to receive a dipping container 400 forcondiments, sauces, and other suitable material. The dipping container400 may comprise one or more dipping container tabs 401 allowing a userto easily remove the container 400 from within the aperture 101 of theplate 100.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention offers many advantages to other plates known inthe art. Perhaps most importantly, the plate 100 and beverage container200 described herein may be used for dual purposes. For example, inpreferred embodiments, the plate 100 is constructed with a substantiallyflat or planner bottom allowing it to be placed onto a table while theinterior retaining wall 102 prevents food or articles from spilling orleaking out of the plate through the aperture 101. By connecting abeverage container 200 to the plate's channel 106 located on its bottomside, a user can hold both the plate 100 and a beverage within thebeverage container 200 with a single hand without fear of spills orleakages from the plate 100 into the container 200. Therefore, theinvention as described herein may serve dual purposes as both atraditional serving plate and as a single handed plate 100 with beveragecontainer 200. An additional advantage of the plate 100 is the pluralityof interior segmenting walls 105. The interior segmenting walls 105prevent the spread or leakage of food or other articles from one area ofthe plate 100 into another area. Finally, the plate 100 and beveragecontainer 200 may be made from strong, sturdy materials allowing a userto comfortable hold the plate 100 with a beverage in one hand in avariety of locations such as a conferences, sporting events, orbarbecues. In preferred embodiments, the slightly tapered edge of thebeverage container 200 allows the container 200 and plate 100 to beplaced within a cup holder found on the armrest of many portable lawnchairs offering a secure location for a user to place the plate 100 andenjoy their food and beverages in a variety of locations.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described hereinwith reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof,it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatother embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/orachieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples arewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplatedthereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

1. A dual purpose plate comprising: a generally flat plate member havinga top and a bottom surface and a centrally disposed and substantiallycircular aperture formed therein, said top surface of said plate havinga raised interior wall that surrounds said aperture, a raised exteriorwall surrounding a perimeter of said plate, and a plurality of raisedsegmenting walls extending between said raised interior and exteriorwalls, each of said raised walls and segmenting walls integrally moldedinto a one piece unit, said raised interior wall defining a channelformed on the bottom of said plate member that peripherally surroundssaid aperture; a beverage container adapted for removable attachment tosaid plate, said container having a generally cylindrical shape with oneend closed and one end open, said open end aligned with said aperture ofsaid plate when attached thereto, said open end having a layer ofmaterial folded over onto itself to define a winged outer rim portion,wherein said winged outer rim portion is adapted for insertion andretention within said channel on said plate member, whereby when saidcontainer and plate are attached together, said container presents agrippable surface for simultaneously holding said container and platemember. 2-4. (canceled)
 5. The dual purpose plate of claim 1, whereinsaid winged, outer rim portion of said beverage container removablyattaches to said plate member through a tongue-in-groove connection. 6.The dual purpose plate of claim 5, wherein said winged, outer portion ofsaid beverage container has an interior and an exterior surface and saidinterior surface is provided with at least one attachment member andwherein said channel of said plate is defined by an interior wallprovided with a female groove, whereby said at least one attachmentmember connects within said female groove to form said tongue-in-grooveconnection.
 7. The dual purpose plate of claim 1, wherein said winged,outer rim portion of said beverage container removably attaches to saidserving plate through a frictional fit.
 8. The dual purpose plate ofclaim 7, wherein said winged, outer portion of said beverage containerhas an interior surface and an exterior surface and said channel of saidplate member is defined by an interior wall and an exterior wall, saidwinged outer portion adapted for insertion within said channel, portioncircumferentially, whereby when said winged outer portion is insertedwithin said channel, said winged outer portion circumferentiallycompresses such that said exterior and interior surfaces frictionallyengage respective said exterior and said interior walls of said channel.9. The dual purpose plate of claim 6, wherein said at least oneattachment member of said container is comprised of a single andcontinuous protuberant male attachment ring.
 10. The dual purpose plateof claim 6, wherein said at least one attachment member is comprised ofone of the group consisting of two, four, six and eight, protuberantmale attachment members that are spaced from each other.
 11. The dualpurpose plate of claim 9, further including a removable dippingcontainer for holding a variety of condiments and sauces, said dippingcontainer adapted to rest upon said raised interior wall and enclosesaid aperture of said plate.
 12. The dual purpose plate of claim 10,further including a removable dipping container for holding a variety ofcondiments and sauces, said dipping container adapted to rest upon saidraised interior wall and enclose said aperture of said plate.
 13. Thedual purpose plate of claim 8, further including a removable dippingcontainer for holding a variety of condiments and sauces, said dippingcontainer adapted to rest upon said raised interior wall and enclosesaid aperture of said plate.
 14. A serving plate comprising: a generallyflat plate member having a top and a bottom surface and a centrallydisposed and substantially circular aperture formed therein, said topsurface of said plate having a raised interior wall that surrounds saidaperture, a raised exterior wall surrounding a perimeter of said platemember, and a plurality of raised segmenting walls extending betweensaid raised interior and exterior walls, each of said raised walls andsegmenting walls integrally molded into a one piece unit; a removabledipping container for holding a variety of condiments and sauces, saiddipping container adapted to attach to and enclose said aperture of saidplate member.
 15. The serving plate of claim 14, wherein said removabledipping container further includes at least one tab for assisting a userto readily remove said dipping container from said plate member.
 16. Theserving plate of claim 15, further including a lip formed as part ofsaid raised interior wall of said plate member, said support lip forsupporting said removable dipping container.